Titans End Drama in Final Act

It had everything you could ask for in an NFL playoff game and, based on this chaotic postseason, everything you’ve come to expect.

The last sequence alone featured a fireworks display for a made field goal that didn’t count, a missed field goal that didn’t count, a made field goal that finally did and, of course, the obligatory officiating controversy.

The final result Saturday was a 34-31 overtime victory for the Tennessee Titans against the bitterly disappointed Pittsburgh Steelers, thanks to a second chance at a game-winning field goal after a penalty for running into the kicker.

“It’s pretty crazy, it’s unbelievable,” said Titan tight end Frank Wycheck, who caught 10 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in the AFC semifinal game. “But funny things happen in the playoffs. We know that first hand.”

Three years ago the Titans won a playoff game against the Buffalo Bills on “The Music City Miracle,” a last-second kickoff return in which Wycheck lateraled across the field to Kevin Dyson, who ran down the sidelines for a touchdown.

Buffalo fans still contend the pass was an illegal forward pass and shouldn’t have counted. Now the Steelers have their own sad song to sing in the country music capital. And one week after the ending to the New York Giant-San Francisco 49er game in which the NFL admitted the officials blew the call and promised new procedures, it was the last thing the league needed.

The Titans won the overtime coin flip and moved the ball to the Pittsburgh 13-yard line. Joe Nedney came out for the 31-yard kick, but the Steelers called time just before the ball was snapped. The Titans went through with the play anyway, the ball sailed through the uprights and an overeager pyrotechnics guy sent up some fireworks from the end zone scoreboard.

But it didn’t count. Then Nedney tried again, but this time his kick went wide right.

The Steelers rejoiced, only to recoil at the sight of a yellow flag on the field.

Dewayne Washington had been called for interfering with the kicker. Replays showed that Nedney had completed his follow-through and was standing on both feet before appearing to collapse at roughly the same time Washington rolled into the bottom of his leg and spun him around.

Given another chance from five yards closer, Nedney came through and the Titans were on their way to the AFC championship game against the winner of today’s game between the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders.

Not only were the Steelers angry that the penalty had been called, they were upset that their attempt to call another timeout before the final kick wasn’t granted.

Steeler Coach Bill Cowher ran up to the officials and yelled in their faces immediately after the game and was still seething during his postgame address to the media.

“For the game to be decided on a call like that is ludicrous,” Cowher said.

Referee Ron Blum told a pool reporter that the call was made because Washington was “running into the kicker to where he made contact with the kicker. Not hitting the plant foot, which would define ‘roughing,’ but running into, making solid contact and knocking the kicker either down or off balance.”

Washington didn’t think he committed a penalty.

“I didn’t feel like I did,” he said. “Obviously, he did the fake fall at the end. But his foot was clearly down. I’m giving it all I’ve got to go and block it. The refs make the call. So be it.

“At the end, once he came down, we made contact. But the fake falling down ... obviously the kickers are taught to do that.

“It was tough. It’s hard for me right now not to feel the burden of losing this game.”

Said Nedney: “He got a pretty good hit on me. But I think when I get done playing football I might try acting.”

The Steelers think he shouldn’t have even been on stage. Jason Gildon was frantically signaling for a timeout to umpire Chad Brown before the ball was snapped.

Before the fireworks, falling and flags, there was some hard-hitting football.

Tennessee dominated the first quarter, maintaining possession for all but 2 minutes 38 seconds. The Titans moved halfway down the field to get the first score of the game, an eight-yard run by quarterback Steve McNair (who completed 27 of 44 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns). Then they organized a nine-minute march that resulted in a one-yard touchdown for running back Eddie George and a 14-0 lead.

Pittsburgh pulled within 14-13 by halftime, then got the lead right after George’s last carry of the day. George and Pittsburgh defensive lineman Casey Hampton bumped helmets in the second half, and George came to the sidelines with a concussion. On the next play, Pittsburgh running back Amos Zereoue burst through the middle for a 31-yard touchdown that put the Steelers ahead, 20-14.

Tennessee regained the lead with a 61-yard touchdown drive, then went up, 28-20, on a McNair touchdown pass with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter.

Pittsburgh tied it up with a 21-yard pass from Tommy Maddox to Hines Ward and a two-point conversion.

The teams exchanged field goals, then held on for overtime after Nedney missed a 48-yard attempt that could have won it at the end of regulation.

Then the fireworks -- in the sky and on the field -- began.

“It was crazy, man,” Titan linebacker Keith Bulluck said. “But that’s what the playoffs are all about.”

Especially this year.

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Something Extra

*--* NFL playoff overtim e games: DATE RESULT ROUND TIME Jan. Tennessee 34, Pittsburgh AFC divisional playoffs 2:15 11, 31 2003 Jan. New England Patriots 16, AFC divisional playoffs 8:29 19, Oakland Raiders 13 2002 Dec. Miami Dolphins 23, AFC wild card 3:34 30, Indianapolis Colts 17 2000 Jan. Atlanta Falcons 30, NFC championship 11:52 17, Minnesota Vikings 27 1999 Jan. 8, Kansas City Chiefs 27, AFC wild card 11:03 1994 Pittsburgh Steelers 24 Jan. 3, Buffalo Bills 41, Houston AFC wild card 3:06 1993 Oilers 38 Jan. 7, Los Angeles Rams 19, New NFC divisional playoffs 1:06 1990 York Giants 13 Dec. Pittsburgh Steelers 26, AFC wild card 3:26 31, Houston Oilers 23 1989 Jan. 3, Houston Oilers 23, AFC wild card 8:05 1988 Seattle Seahawks 20 Jan. Denver Broncos 23, AFC championship 5:38 11, Cleveland Browns 20 1987 Jan. 3, Cleveland Browns 23, New AFC divisional playoffs 17:02 1987 York Jets 20 Jan. 2, San Diego Chargers 41, AFC divisional playoffs 13:52 1982 Miami Dolphins 38 Dec. Oakland Raiders 37, AFC divisional playoffs 15:43 24, Baltimore Colts 31 1977 Dec. Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas AFC divisional playoffs 22:40 25, City Chiefs 24 1971 Dec. Green Bay Packers 13, NFL Western Conf. playoff 13:39 26, Baltimore Colts 10 1965 Dec. Dallas Texans 20, Houston AFL championship 17:54 23, Oilers 17 1962 Dec. Baltimore Colts 23, New NFL championship 8:15 28, York Giants 17 1958

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